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Heirloom Lace Edgings

Add elegance to any project with knitted lace edgings. Designer Franklin Habit guides you through their history and attachment methods and shows how to knit a charming sample.

Whether you’d like to embellish a simple project such as a baby bonnet or tackle an elaborate lace shawl, Franklin Habit makes it doable, not daunting. You’ll learn how lace edgings have been used in the past and how to create your own modern-day heirlooms. Find out how to sew on an edging that you can remove – perfect for embellishing items that wear out – or how to knit edgings on permanently. You’ll even learn how to knit an edging simultaneously with the center of a shawl and practice with a project you can complete in less than an hour. New to lace or a long-time needle-crafter, you're sure to enjoy knitting along with Franklin as he shares his wit and wisdom.

Lesson plan

12:29

Lesson 1. A Brief History of Lace Edgings

Meet your instructor, Franklin Habit, and jump right into the fascinating history of lace edgings, including early illustrated patterns, uses for lace edgings and the practice of knitting and collecting lace edgings. You'll also learn about the gauges and yarns used in edgings.

9:17

Lesson 2. Uses for Lace Edgings

When should you add lace edging to a project or purchased item? Franklin goes over a variety of ways you can use them.

21:35

Lesson 3. Anatomy of Lace Edgings

Franklin explains how lace edgings work and shows you how to read a lace-edging chart. You'll also learn about selvage stitches and get a homework assignment to practice!

1:03:08

Lesson 4. How to Sew On Lace Edgings

If you want to embellish hand towels, pillowcases or handkerchiefs, or any item that might wear out, you can sew on lace edging for easy removal later. Franklin shows you how, with a variety of stitch options.

6:19

Lesson 5. Introduction to Knitted-On Edgings

Some lace edgings are knit-on, either after a project is completed or simultaneously with the project. Franklin introduces some of the uses for these edgings.

27:51

Lesson 6. How to Knit On Lace Edgings

Franklin walks you through the process of knitting a lace edging onto a project, including picking up stitches and turning corners.

12:49

Lesson 7. Introduction to Simultaneous Edgings

Simultaneous edgings are knit as you work on your project, which means your project is finished all in one go. Imagine: No more abandoned shawls waiting for you to come back and add their edging!

35:53

Lesson 8. How to Knit Simultaneous Lace Edgings

Follow along as Franklin walks you through a charming project that incorporates simultaneous edging. You'll be raring to go with any edging project once you're done!

"Franklin Habit is an excellent teacher and this was a really really good class. Since I've read his columns and blog, I figured he'd be funny, which he was, but he was much more than that -- informative, inspiring, made so many lace techniques simple that I was inspired to do a lace edging on a shawlette I was making for my daughter. Finished it in a week -- which would never have happened without Franklin's class." - knitkitt

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Lesson plan

12:29

Lesson 1. A Brief History of Lace Edgings

Meet your instructor, Franklin Habit, and jump right into the fascinating history of lace edgings, including early illustrated patterns, uses for lace edgings and the practice of knitting and collecting lace edgings. You'll also learn about the gauges and yarns used in edgings.

9:17

Lesson 2. Uses for Lace Edgings

When should you add lace edging to a project or purchased item? Franklin goes over a variety of ways you can use them.

21:35

Lesson 3. Anatomy of Lace Edgings

Franklin explains how lace edgings work and shows you how to read a lace-edging chart. You'll also learn about selvage stitches and get a homework assignment to practice!

1:03:08

Lesson 4. How to Sew On Lace Edgings

If you want to embellish hand towels, pillowcases or handkerchiefs, or any item that might wear out, you can sew on lace edging for easy removal later. Franklin shows you how, with a variety of stitch options.

6:19

Lesson 5. Introduction to Knitted-On Edgings

Some lace edgings are knit-on, either after a project is completed or simultaneously with the project. Franklin introduces some of the uses for these edgings.

27:51

Lesson 6. How to Knit On Lace Edgings

Franklin walks you through the process of knitting a lace edging onto a project, including picking up stitches and turning corners.

12:49

Lesson 7. Introduction to Simultaneous Edgings

Simultaneous edgings are knit as you work on your project, which means your project is finished all in one go. Imagine: No more abandoned shawls waiting for you to come back and add their edging!

35:53

Lesson 8. How to Knit Simultaneous Lace Edgings

Follow along as Franklin walks you through a charming project that incorporates simultaneous edging. You'll be raring to go with any edging project once you're done!

The instructor

Franklin Habit, Instructor of Heirloom Lace Edgings

Designer and teacher Franklin Habit is the author of It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons (Interweave Press, 2008) and proprietor of The Panopticon, one of the most popular knitting blogs, where readers worldwide drop in for a mix of essays, cartoons and the continuing adventures of Dolores the Sheep.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(21 reviews)

Excellent Speaker

by baabonnybelle on July 25, 2015

Franklin Habit gives a presentation that you don't want to miss. His knowledge, ease of speaking and spurts of humor make for a lovely time learning about heirloom lace knitting.

Franklin Habit gives a presentation that you don't want to miss. His knowledge, ease of speaking and spurts of humor make for a lovely time learning about heirloom lace knitting.

Great Information

by ontheway on July 5, 2015

I love it ! Thank you so much!

I love it ! Thank you so much!

Excellent class.

by Maryslilacre on June 6, 2015

There was plenty of information, delivered in a very easy to understand manner. I really enjoyed Franklin's teaching style. He is very precise, very clear and has a dry sense of humor that is delightful.

I have been knitting a long time, but I learned a few tips I had never heard of, and the simultaneous lace edging was so easy to understand once he explained it. I had always shied away from it because it sounded too complicated.

There was plenty of information, delivered in a very easy to understand manner. I really enjoyed Franklin's teaching style. He is very precise, very clear and has a dry sense of humor that is delightful.

I have been knitting a long time, but I learned a few tips I had never heard of, and the simultaneous lace edging was so easy to understand once he explained it. I had always shied away from it because it sounded too complicated.

Excellent!!!!!!

by ellabeany on March 29, 2015

The instructions and visuals are very clear and understandable. The material is complex but Franklin Habit breaks it down into excellent smaller steps for practice and for finished projects. This class is just what I needed to understand edgings for shawls in the Estonian, orenberg, and Shetland styles. I think this classes is accessible to all levels of knitters. As a bonus, I enjoyed Mr. Habit's very dry humor.

The instructions and visuals are very clear and understandable. The material is complex but Franklin Habit breaks it down into excellent smaller steps for practice and for finished projects. This class is just what I needed to understand edgings for shawls in the Estonian, orenberg, and Shetland styles. I think this classes is accessible to all levels of knitters. As a bonus, I enjoyed Mr. Habit's very dry humor.

Great Class

by MicheleSLP on February 12, 2015

I thought this class was wonderful! Enough information without being overwhelmed. I thought Franklin was engaging and would welcome the opportunity to take another class hosted by him. Well done!

I thought this class was wonderful! Enough information without being overwhelmed. I thought Franklin was engaging and would welcome the opportunity to take another class hosted by him. Well done!